800-931-1026

In response to all the previous as I just recieved a call on my cell. I did not answer but instead googled the number. this forum came up. so I read all the previous details. Any way as to this scam:

This was taken directly from phonebusters web site. I work for a news agency and we deal with a lot of fraud.

beware my friends. And please read it all. Note what it says about SIN numbers.


Vishing or Voice Phishing

What is Vishing?
"Vishing" or "Voice Phishing” is the act of leveraging a new technology called Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) in using the telephone system to falsely claim to be a legitimate enterprise in an attempt to scam users into disclosing personal information. Government, financial institutions, as well as online auctions and their payment services, can be targets of Voice Phishing.

Methods of transmission:

   * typically an incoming recorded telephone message uses a spoofed (fraudulent) caller ID matching the identity of a misrepresented organization
   * the message uses an urgent pretext to direct unsuspecting users to another telephone number
   * the victim is invited to punch their personal information on their telephone keypad
   * criminals capture the key tones and convert them back to numerical format

Different variations of the scam:

   * the potential victim is contacted by a phishing e-mail and directed to a VoIP-based telephone number
   * the potential victim receives a telephone call from another individual with a spoofed caller ID
   * the potential victim receives a recorded incoming call with a spoofed caller ID directing them to a phishing site

Characteristics:
The content of the incoming message is designed to trigger an impulsive reaction from you. It can use:

   * upsetting or exciting information
   * demand an urgent response
   * use a false pretense
   * is not normally personalized

Information at risk:

   Any numerical personal information:

   * payment card information (numbers, expiry dates and the last three digits printed on the signature panel)
   * PIN (Personal Identification Number)
   * social insurance number
   * date of birth
   * bank account numbers
   * passport number

Potential uses of your information:

   * control of victim's financial accounts
   * open new bank accounts
   * transfer bank balances
   * apply for loans
   * credit cards and other goods/services
   * luxury purchases
   * hide criminal activities
   * receive government benefits or
   * obtain a passport.

How to prevent:

   * As a general rule, be suspicious when receiving any unsolicited incoming communication.
   * Never provide personal information in these circumstances.
   * Never rely solely on your telephone caller ID function.

If you’re suspicious:

   * Consumers have a role to play in stopping vishing scams. You are encouraged to Recognize it, Report it and Stop it.
   * Do not react immediately without thinking.
   * If this concerns you, investigate by using telephone numbers known to be valid. In the case of credit cards for example, use the telephone number printed on the back of the card.
   * Never provide personal or financial information to non-validated sources.

Are you a victim?: If you have provided personal information:
Step 1. Contact all compromised card issuers.
Step 2. Contact your credit bureau.
Step 3. Report the incident online at www.recol.ca or by contacting PhoneBusters at 1-888-495-8501.

Every time I've talked with Revenue Canada they always ask for my SIN. I just dealt with this 1800 number and they new my tax info from 2005/2006. I really wouldnt worry about it. They were also very polite.

Omg they just called me today. But they didn't ask me for my SIN. They just ask for my Adress and date of birth and which bank I bank at. Umm did I just get myself into a scam?? What should I do??  Please someone give me more info....

Omg that number just called me today!! But they didn't ask me for my SIN. They just ask for my adress and date of birth and which bank i banked at. Umm did I just get myself into a scam??? What should I do?? Please someone give me more info....

I just got a call from this GOC 1-800-931-1026. I googled it while it was ringing. Having worked for T1 Assessment at Revenue Canada and CCRA (now CRA), I can tell you folks there's no way that CRA would call you like this. In fact, if it's CRA Collections, it'll be a local number from your area code or one of the Tax Centres.

I wonder what collection agency is using this scam?

Very Interesting
I have been called daily since just before taxes were due.  No Message, I answered once and was immediately put on hold, a recording saying this is important please don't hang up. I hung up. This summer I was left a message and immediately asked for my SIN #.  I was astonished as they called me.
I did call phone buster and the police and they told me to never give out your SIN - I knew this, Everyone knows this so why is our govenment body asking for it?
Thanks All for the info...I will not respond again.

Got a call from them today but they hung up when I answered. I have dealt with Revenue Canada on back taxes owing (and GST) for several years and they have *never* not left a message. They need to leave a message so that it can be logged that they tried to contact you if you owe money.

Anyway, I *moved* out of Canada over a year ago. I still have a Canadian number which is done through voice over IP. The thing is that Revenue Canada (both personal and GST) both have my U.S. number. This call came through on my Canadian number. In addition, I don't owe them any money (it's been paid and for 2007 I am due a refund).

I doubt it's a collection agency as I have no debts in Canada. It's some sort of other scam I'm sure.

called today asking for my husband. I hadn't answered the tons of previous calls from this number and today I finally did. They said it was about his GST account. They gave me HIS GST number which I have not yet verified. I think he would know his own GST number.I put this number on search and came up with this site. I will not be telling hubby to call the number back after reading all of this.

I've been getting calls from this number for the last week or so. They never leave a message. I don't answer 800 numbers usually but on the occassions I have answered this one I have twice (maybe 3) got a few clicks and hangup. One time however I got a machine message saying "Please hold for an important message from Revenue Canada". I recently incorporated a business and do owe some GST but I don't believe it is really them.

I think it is a scam and that they get the numbers from business registrations. There is never a name on the caller id. I believe they are spoofing the number. CRA has not mailed me anything and I will not do anything until they do.

Seriously, more than 20 calls in a two week period?!?

I got a phone call from these people and it was the CRA.  I asked them why the number did not match that posted with the CRA.  The person simply put a comment on the record that was showing in front of her and I called back from the CRA number.  I spoke with a different person, but the comments that were added to my record were the same.  I also did not have to validate any information for the business account that they were calling about.  They just wanted me to confirm the address.

This number has called me at least 3 times daily at my desk at work. The only people who know this number are my boss and spouse, and I do not use this line to speak with anyone else. I do not owe any taxes (got a refund like I do every year), and while I am dealing with a collection agent...we have an agreement and I've paid in good faith. I have not answered this number (thank you, caller ID). What's more...is I am an employee with the federal gov't and can not find this number in any of our databases (including GEDS).

I am interested to know if this is harrassment, and if I can do anything about it.

Got called by them and they told me to verify it if I wanted, I didn't until after and its a CRA call center number. Do it yourselves, it took me about 2 seconds.

I work away and received 3 calls from 1800-931-1026 on my company cell.  Spoke to someone the first call.  I don't believe he asked for my sin # but wanted to verify my address.  I asked him if an income tax statement was sent to my home address..he said yes.  I said okay, I will have it sent to me in Alberta and take care of it.  3 days later I received a call..did not answer..today I received a call..did not answer.  In retrospect, I find it very hard to believe that it is Revenue Canada.  I have owned income tax in previous years paid it quite a few months late and never received a call.  Also, it took them 3 years to start calling me about my student loan.  Now in 2008 they have the manpower to start contacting people a month or less after filing taxes...repeatedly call day after day..I doubt it.

Called every day for the past week... leave no message.  I am not even a Canadian citizen and have only been here 3 months so there should be no reason for them to contact me.

Spoke to a person calling from this number more than 1 month ago - they said they were Revenue Canada.  I refused to give them any information and asked them to Mail me.  Nothing received of course!
Since then, the number has called DAILY!  They don't leave any messages.
I answered the call again today - and they again said they were revenue Canada.  I insisted that they had to mail me the details.  Bet I still dont' receive anything.  And - I know I don't owe any taxes and all my contact with Revenue Canada should be (as directed on my file) to my accountant.  This is an identity theft scam!

Just got a call from 800-931-1026 on my cell phone and as I said hello it was ringing a number so I hung up.  Reading the above I'm confused and do not know who to believe.

Got a call from this number, but no name "unknown name" on the display - any call I have ever got in the past from any GOC department clearly stated on the display GOVMT CANADA - I am looking at one on my call display as I type this. This number has called 3 times in less than 45 minutes and no message was ever left, I have never known a GOC employee to ever hang up with out leaving a message and documenting this on your file, your file will reflect date time of these calls - I am suspicious of this caller as being legit. Ask for Name/ dept / extension - tell them you will call them right back after you call the number of their department that is listed in the blue pages.  Then you will know for sure.. Other posters that say "Yup, this is legit" have provided no proof - do your own investigation FIRST! They could be using VOIP and spoofing if in fact they are not legit GOC.  Good luck!

Just to ad to the previous post..
http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/en/about/publi ... glish_mar08.pdf

Hi this is <b>C.R.A's collection dept.</b>  They called me for 4 consecutive days and I kept hanging up.  I did and submitted my taxes (GST, etc.) on the 5th and 6th days (which were weekends) and they stopped calling.  My humble findings/suggestion, this is CRA's computer calling and then forwards you to a live rep. which pending the latency filing and the approximated due amount will talk with you. Rough or soft, it's their call and your attitude.  ... just do your taxes ... and you shall see.

I had this number on my call display several times. I did call them back and was not sure if it was legit. I contacted phonebusters by email (no reply) so called 1-800-OCANADA. They answered on the first ring, which was strange for a government agency, but confirmed 1-800-931-1026 was a valid Revenue Canada collection outgoing number. Not satisfied, I call the 1-800-OCANADA number 5 hours later, had a different person check and got the same answer. Being suspicious of this whole mess, I called 1-800-959-8281, Revenue Canada's main number, spoke to a real person after following many prompts, who call the number while I waited, talked to the person there, got their name and ID number, ran it through their employer email list and confirmed it was a legit call centre.
The Revenue Canada person also confirmed that there was no record of them calling me and I did not own any tax. They say it may have been someone cloaking the number on the original call that came to my house, or a computer error. Either way, it is legit. And so am I. If you have any thoughts that it is not real, take the time to go through what I just did and feel better about this mess. I think I will still call Equifax....just to be safe.